Readying for war, Bush signals intent to move against Iraq

Preparing the nation for the possibility of war, President Bush Thursday accused Saddam Hussein of trying to deceive U.N. weapons inspectors and said he must be held accountable by America's allies.

"I will not leave the American people at the mercy of the Iraqi dictator and his weapons," Bush said.

At a primetime news conference, Bush said the issue will come to a head within a matter of days as the U.N. Security Council decides whether to approve a U.S.-backed resolution authorizing force against Iraq.

Bush said Saddam was stalling. "He's trying to buy time. I can understand why. He's been successful for 12 years," the president said.

Bush's remarks came as the Senate planned today to set aside time to discuss Iraq, although it will not vote on any resolutions, aides said.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ranking member Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Senate Appropriations ranking member Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., each have resolutions pending before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Byrd's resolution calls for the administration to work more closely with the United Nations, which it is doing, a spokesman said. Kennedy's resolution calls on the administration to seek congressional approval before using military force to disarm Iraq.

Bush Thursday evening held closely to a discussion of Iraq, steering clear of domestic and congressional issues even as aides prowl Capitol Hill in search of support for tax cuts, health care plans and other domestic initiatives. He said he would seek a wartime supplemental appropriations measure at an "appropriate time," but said he could not quantify the costs.

Bush opened his news conference with a lengthy statement, more than 10 minutes long, accusing the Iraqi leader of refusing to comply with demands for him to disarm.

Bush said he would act against Saddam regardless of whether other nations are willing to support the U.S. move, the Associated Press reported.

Turning to another hot spot, Bush said the best way to deal with rising tensions with North Korea is to involve other nations in the region, such as China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.